View full sizeTimes-Picayune archiveThe Algiers ferry and the Crescent City Connection have become popular filming sites for fairly big-budget movies, starting with 'Deja Vu' in the spring of 2006.

More than five years later, the city has cemented its reputation as Hollywood South -- and the Crescent City Connection continues to play a supporting role. The bridge and ferries are booked about twice a month for filming, but the scope of the typical project isn't exactly "Deja Vu" all over again.

During filming of "Deja Vu," the Algiers ferry was closed for 23 days to shoot a scene in which the boat explodes in a terrorist plot. The production company provided free bus service from Algiers to Canal Street, but regular ferry users complained about the disruption.

By contrast, most people who use the bridge or ferries these days probably aren't even aware when filming is taking place. And that's the way bridge officials want to keep it.

"Our primary goal is to keep traffic moving," said David Miller, director of the bridge's toll facilities. "If we do allow someone to film on the bridge, it can't interfere with our services."

He said filming is typically restricted to Sundays in the bridge's high-occupancy-vehicle lanes, which are primarily used during weekday rush hours and are separated by concrete barriers from the regular lanes.

The high-occupancy lanes were used this summer to film a scene for the movie "21 Jump Street" in which a truck loaded with chickens explodes, Miller said, noting that the bridge was paid about $36,000 for three weekend shoots.

Earlier this month, the film "Headshot" starring Sylvester Stallone as a hitman paid $10,000 to shoot scenes on the Gretna ferry and in the closed Jackson Avenue ferry terminal, Miller said.

View full sizeTimes-Picayune archiveIn April 2006, actor Denzel Washington adjusts his raincoat while preparing for a rain scene on the landing of the Algiers ferry during filming of 'Deja Vu.'

The HBO series "Treme" has paid $11,000 to use Crescent City Connection facilities four times, including to film a scene featuring the implied suicide of John Goodman's character by jumping off a ferry.

The list of films that have used the bridge or ferries includes "The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans," "The Chaperone," "12 Rounds," "Black Water Transit" and "The Yellow Handkerchief."

Overall, the Crescent City Connection has generated about $125,000 in film industry revenue since "Deja Vu," Miller said. That's not a huge amount for a bridge with a $27 million annual budget, but Miller said there are some fringe benefits.

"I don't know how much the publicity or exposure helps the bridge, but this certainly helps the local film industry and the economy," he said.

Miller said the bridge could generate more film revenue, but officials turn down projects deemed too disruptive. He said a recent request for extended use of a ferry for a TV reality show was rejected.

"We looked at it but couldn't pull it off without interfering with our services," said Miller, who did not know details of the show's proposal.

Miller said the bridge and Algiers ferry terminal are prized for the panoramic views they offer of the New Orleans skyline. Television news crews were given free access to the ferry and ferry terminal to use the city as a backdrop for reports about the BP oil spill.

The commitment to minimize the disruption to traffic has lowered the cinematic profile of the bridge and ferries. Clearly, exploding chicken trucks are no match for the spectacular blast staged on the Sen. Alvin T. Stumpf ferry for "Deja Vu."

The ferry was rigged with 50 gasoline bombs detonated in a five-second span to simulate a terrorist attack.

The Crescent City Connection was paid $3,000 a day for use of the ferry, and the production company agreed to repaint the boat to repair soot damage.

"It worked out pretty well for us," Miller said. "We made some money and got a good paint job out of it."